Fur stretching device



June 27, 1939. c s -rz FUR STRETCHING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1937ATTORNEY.

Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE,

Clarence Sturtz, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Application May 12, 1937, Serial No. 142,290

2 Claims.

My invention relates to fur stretchers and more particularly to the typeof stretcher that is used by trappers for stretching the pelts of smallanimals, such as muskrats, or the like.

It is obvious to anyone familiar with the art that the prime requisiteof a stretching device is to rigidly support the pelt in a manner thatwill cause it to be spread out and stretched to the proper proportionswithout causing wrinkles or folds in the pelt and without puncturing thepelt, or in any other manner, injuring it.

The object of my invention is to produce a device that will accomplishthe aforesaid requirements in an efficient manner so that the operatormay easily adjust the device to its required position without any toolsor the knowledge of mechanics.

The invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts heretofore described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

In the said drawing Fig. l is an illustration of a pelt in its stretchedposition applied to the device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing the arrangement andoperation of the various parts.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of an adjustable clamp as applied tothe device showing the manner in which the clamp functions.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamp showing the arrangement of parts, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a part of an adjustable clampshowing the method employed for contacting and holding the pelt.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and referring now to the same, the character Irepresents a pelt applied over the side members II and II. These membersII and II are pivotally joined at I2 by means of a rivet, or the like.There is a hinged member I3 of channelled construction pivotally mountedat I4 on the side member II' by means of a rivet, or the like. There areapertures I5 in the lower wall of the channelled member I3 and the sidemember II has a projecting prong I6 which engages the apertures I5 whenthe side member II is guided by the channel of the hinged member I3. Aspring I! is shown engaging the side member II and the hinge member I3and functions as a means to keep the projecting prong It in engagementwith the aperture I5.

There are adjustable clamping members I8 provided with a looped sectionI9 which engage the side members II and II. The adjustable clampingmembers I8 consist of a pair of projecting arms, one of which isprovided with an eyelet 20, the other with an engaging member 2|, theengaging member 2| being positioned at a 5 point central to the eyelet20. The slidable loop 22 encircles the projecting members of theadjustable clamps I8 and when brought forward to the eyelet 20, causesthe engaging member 2| to engage the eyelet 20.

In operation the hinged portion I2 of the device is inserted into thepelt I0 and the pelt I0 itself is brought down its entire length. Theoperator then spreads the side members II and II to the properadjustment allowed by the pelt I0 and the projecting prong I6 is enteredinto one of the apertures I5 in the member I3.

The spring Il being of sufficient tension affords permanent engagementof the prong IS in one of the apertures I5. Next, the adjustable clampsI8 are brought into engagement with the ends of the pelt at 23 and 24respectively. In Fig. 5 is shown the manner employed for clamping theends of the pelt at 23 and 24 by means of the eyelet 20 and the engagingmember 2I in the ad- 25 justable clamps I8. After this engagement on thepelt has been made, the operator slides the ad-- justable clampsdownward on the members II and II toward the member I3 by means of theloop I9 on the member I8, engaging the side mem- 0 hers I I and I I.These loops I9, being of a slightly larger diameter than the size of thematerial constituting the members II and II' will cause the same toproduce a clamping action which will retain them in a fixed position dueto the coefiicient of friction of the loop I9 and the members II and II.In this manner as the pelt dries and cures, it will be prevented fromwrinkling or pulling out of shape by the stretching action of the sidemembers II and II', and the adjust- 40 able clamps IB.

In the chosen embodiments of my invention exemplified by theaccompanying drawing there are present certain novel refinements andimprovements not heretofore disclosed in the prior art and which will behereinafter more fully referred to and specifically pointed out in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent in the United States, is: I

1. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a pairof side members pivotally connected at one end, a U shaped cross 7member pivotally supported by one of said'side 5s members, a pluralityof engaging means on said hinged cross member for contacting the otherof said side members, a resilient means for retaining the depending endof said cross member in engagement with one of the said side members,and adjustable clamping members slidably engaging said side members forretaining a pelt or the like in a stretched position on said devicewithout piercing holes into the pelt.

2. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a pairof side members pivotally connected at one end, a U shaped hinged crossmember pivotally connected to one of said side members, said crossmember provided with a plurality of engaging indexes, a projectingmember on the end of one of said side members for engagement with saidindexes, a resilient support for retaining said cross member in directengagement with said projecting member, and clamping members forslidable contact with said side members, said clamping members providedwith an eyelet on one end and projecting contact member on the other endfor clamping the end of a pelt or the like when stretched over samewithout piercing said pelt. CLARENCE STURTZ

